A gardener noticed a red and swollen area on his arm that had received a deep scratch from a thorn on a plant - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 28 - 2006 - Paper 1
Question 28
A gardener noticed a red and swollen area on his arm that had received a deep scratch from a thorn on a plant.
Identify the most likely human defence adaptation tha... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:A gardener noticed a red and swollen area on his arm that had received a deep scratch from a thorn on a plant - HSC - SSCE Biology - Question 28 - 2006 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the most likely human defence adaptation that caused these symptoms.
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Answer
The most likely human defence adaptation is inflammation. This response occurs when tissues are damaged, leading to increased blood flow and immune cell activity, which results in redness and swelling.
Step 2
Why did the doctor prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection?
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Answer
The doctor prescribed an antibiotic because the red and swollen area indicated an infection, likely caused by bacteria. Antibiotics target bacterial infections to help the body combat the pathogens effectively.
Step 3
Explain how this action by the gardener might lead to antibiotic resistance.
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By stopping the antibiotic treatment after only five days, the gardener may not have eliminated all the bacteria. Those that survived may be resistant to the antibiotic, allowing them to reproduce. Over time, this can lead to a population of bacteria that are resistant to that antibiotic, making future infections harder to treat.